A Box Full of Memories
by Castlefan6
Authors Note: AU Story for Rick and Jordan Shaw by request, prior to meeting Kate. This is TOTALLY AU, PRE-SERIES, with some fragments from Canon used, picks up where Rick has been dumped by Kyra and finds love with Jordan. THIS IS NOT CASKETT, THIS IS NOT CASKETT, THIS IS NOT CASKETT
I don't own Castle; I use the characters for amusement purposes only, except the ones I create.
Also, we take MANY liberties with the timeline from Canon and use events from other Canon episodes to make this a more believable fiction, thanks.
Chapter 5
Monday, 7:00 AM
JFK Airport
/_/
Rick was pacing, he was about to do something that really scared the hell out of him. He had spoken to hundreds of people, even acted in plays, and played the piano at the Old Haunt to earn money in his freshman year. Now, he was going to have to face the people buying his book and answer questions, sure he had a made-up story, but what if he slipped?
His palms were wet with sweat, as Paula sat in the lounge drinking her last drink before boarding the flight to Los Angeles. The kick-off of his western tour was now here, ironically, he was meeting Georgie at the airport, but he knew, the old days were over, at least for him. Out of nowhere, he heard,
"Mr. Castle, can I have your autograph?" as he looked around, he saw the one face he wanted to see more than anyone in the world, Jordy.
He rushed to her and kissed her, "I thought you had class and couldn't make it, but God, I'm glad you did." He said, between kisses,
"I know Rick, I'm sorry I fibbed, but I hate goodbyes, especially in public but I missed you so damn much I had to kiss these lips at least once more, it has to last three weeks love. I miss you already" as the tears flowed,
He held her face gently, kissing her tears away, "I'll call you on facetime every night, I promise, and if you miss me too much just hold this in your hand for a few moments." He held out a beautiful gold charm with a single diamond as the teardrop in a dancing lady outlined simply in black. "The bracelet and a chain are in the box, you can wear it, either way, I hope you like it." He said softly as she held him as if he were leaving for years,
"Turn it over Jordy, I hope it isn't too much", she turned the charm over, God it was heavy, it had to be expensive, there was the inscription, 'Sometimes, it takes a heartbreak to make you see who you really love" Love Rick, and the date and time of day they met were engraved.
She lost it, completely, holding on to him, crying, kissing, crying, looking at the charm, and literally shaking, she was so overcome.
"I love it Rick, thank you so much, I'll wear it around my neck, next to my heart, the heart that belongs to you now," she said, tears came to his eyes as he held her tightly,
"When were you going to give this to me, I mean your flight leaves soon," Jordan asked,
Rick pointed over to the two men standing by, Special Couriers he had arranged to deliver it to her. "I thought I would let you get home from class, then have it delivered, but I'm glad you came. I'm going to miss you Jordy, but when you miss me just rub the teardrop, and know that I'm counting the minutes until I get back to you, OK?" he asked, trying to stay strong,
Paula walked up to the couple as they were embracing, and gave Jordan the stink eye, so this was the infamous Jordy, she thought. Rick caught her out of the corner of his eye, and whispered something to Jordan, as they broke apart.
"Jordan Baes, meet Paula Haas, my publicist, and agent, Paula, this is Jordy, my girlfriend. As you can see, I've over-matched myself, Jordy is the best thing that has ever happened to me, so when she calls, treat it as an emergency, is that clear?" Rick said, leaving no doubt to who his heart belonged to.
"It's nice to meet you, Jordy, may I call you that, I've heard so much about you, and believe me, this one isn't going anywhere, he loves you too much" she laughed as she shook Jordan's hand.
"Hi Paula, yes, please call me Jordy, most everyone does. Thanks, I need someone to keep an eye out for him, I trust Rick, it's the women who don't care if he's taken or not that I will use as my next target in kickboxing class, she laughed as she shook her hand. Her eyes weren't laughing and Paula received the message woman to woman, loud and clear, HANDS OFF.
Their flight was called, and as hard as she tried, Jordan couldn't help but cry as she kissed him goodbye one more time, then quickly ran the charm hanging around her neck between her fingers. Rick was fighting back tears as well, as he kissed her,
"Talk to you tonight, remember the time change, I love you," he said quickly, then turned to walk down the ramp,
"Text me when you land, I'll worry till I know you've arrived safely" Jordan got out, Rick turned rushed back for one last kiss, "Of course Jordy," she kissed him and then uttered the three words, that made his heart sing, "I love you, Richard Castle, don't you forget that".
He smiled as he pulled away, "I won't, I promise I never will" and he and an agitated but silent Paula Haas made their way down the ramp and onto the plane. Jordan turned, wiped her eyes, and returned to class, she had to listen for her and Rick both, it was the only thing that would keep her from crying now.
XxX
25 Minutes Later
Air Space Over New York City
They were sitting in first class, something else Rick would need to grow to understand when Paula finally breached the subject.
"So, Ricky, how serious are you and this broad?" she asked thru her nasal pitch with the New York accent,
Rick turned, looked at her as if he were thinking of throwing her out of the window, even though she would never fit, she saw the anger in his eyes for the first time.
"In the first place Paula, she's not a broad. In the second place, it's none of your business, and in the third, hear me, and hear me good, IF you ever call my girlfriend a name like that again, you're fired. You'll be lucky I don't violate my own promise to never strike a woman and stuff your oversized ass into a garbage bin. Are we clear?" he asked, smoke almost coming out of his ears,
"Sorry Rick, I mean I use that term"
"Well, you don't use it with any woman I am with do you understand?" Rick cut her off,
"Crystal clear, I'm sorry. Just one question and I'm serious Rick" she asked sheepishly
"What is it, Paula?" Rick was clearly annoyed and wanted nothing to do with her at this point,
"Do you really think I have a fat ass? I mean"
"Paula, go ask some man who gives a damn, I'm not interested, not even if I didn't have Jordy, you don't do anything to me, now drop it." He snapped,
The remainder of the flight was quiet, Rick even managed to get a short nap in, until the snores coming from his seatmate, woke him. He was surprised the check engine light in the cockpit hadn't come on she snored so loudly, as he punched her arm.
"Wake up Paula, you're snoring and drowning out the engine sound. People were getting ready to assume the crash position you snored so loudly, they thought we had lost two engines." He said, and it wasn't in a kidding way.
She startled awake, first ashamed she snored then pissed at Rick for waking her and speaking to her that way. She knew he was pissed about her first question, but God get over it already. She decided to go through the agenda for the first signing, this afternoon.
"Rick, here's the agenda for this afternoon, you may want to familiarize yourself with it, it includes a scheduled break which you're going to need if the crowds are as large as we anticipate."
Rick took the paper, looked, and then asked, "What's this wardrobe and makeup, I'm not wearing makeup to sign books Paula" he was pissed once again, she never asked anything she just did things and he wasn't having it.
"Listen, hotshot, you wrote the book, probably a bestseller, that's your job. My job is to keep your life and privacy safe, so you wear clothes that make you look older, and makeup to protect your name on campus until you graduate. Trust me, if they get hold of your real name and identity, you won't have a moment of peace." She said, regaining some of her swagger,
"What kind of makeup and wardrobe are you talking about? In the future Paula, NEVER make plans for me before you check with me, are we clear?" He snapped,
"Clear, but you have to let me do my job. That's what you and Black Pawn pay me for, I don't do things to piss you off intentionally, so come down off your high horse. I'm part of your support system, not someone to cause you problems." She returned with the same vinegar in her voice as his,
"That's fine, but you talk to me first, now answer my question, what are we talking about."
Paula explained they were going to put him in a classy sport coat, a fake pair of black-rimmed glasses, and a three-day growth of beard, attached, as well as colored contact lenses, to change his blue eyes to brown.
"If I'm wearing glasses why do I need the contact lenses Paula?" he asked finally releasing some of the anger, and beginning to return to himself,
"Ricky, your blue eyes are like magnets to chicks, one look and they will wait to jump your bones for hours. If they are trying to find an author in his mid to late twenties, brown eyes, and a beard, you have a chance of keeping your identity safe while on campus.
"If we fail, you will be going to online classes or private tutored sessions. Are you ready to let me do my job now? I promise I'll talk to you in the future, I'm sorry I hit such a nerve." She said quietly,
"I'm sorry too, I mean I guess when you called Jordy,"
"Rick it's just a word I use, I would never call someone that obviously means that much to you any type of name, I'm sorry." She said, extending her hand,
"I'm sorry Paula, and to answer your question, no you don't have a fat ass, I was just pissed off. That was cruel to say, and I take it back"
"Really? You aren't just saying that are you?" she asked and was greeted with him rolling his eyes and looking out of the window.
"Rick, could I ask you about the dedication in your book, it's not every day a writer dedicates his work to two separate women," she smiled,
"Well, you've probably figured out GC, but you're wondering who is KB am I right?" Rick said, with a smile, the first since they had left New York,
"Well, honestly, when I read, and I quote, "This book is dedicated to two special women in my life. One who made me feel like I could accomplish nothing the other that made me feel I could accomplish every desire in my heart, To KB, and GC, with eternal thanks to each" Rick Castle I mean Ricky you know there are people going to wonder who they are." Paula said,
"I know, and you probably already know them both, you're just holding back so I don't go blitzkrieg on you again, go ahead, what's your guess," Rick asked,
"Well, would GC, be the young lady we're seeing when we land, and if so, does Jordy know of your history with her? Sorry, but Jordy asked me to look out for you?" she smiled,
"Well, you got the person right, and yes, Jordy and I talked last week. I explained the situation, how we left things, and how things fell apart as expected. She asked me if I wanted to renew the physical relationship, and of course, I told her no, which I don't.
"Georgie brought me out of my physical depression, and yes sex with her was something to look forward to, something to help make it through each day until the days got easier to get through. With Jordy, it's not just physical, it's emotional as well. I'll always love Georgie, but I've already explained the situation to her, we're cool," he said,
"OK, then that would leave the KB, and I was surprised to read how you felt about Kyra. Rick, you went with her for three years, and"
"And it was a crowded relationship with the three of us, her, me, and her mother. I was warned by so many, even Georgie told me, but I went full blast into the relationship so it was as much my fault as hers. The one unforgivable thing she did was never supporting my dreams, thus the dedication." Rick interrupted,
"Wow, I'm sorry Rick, I knew Sheila was a bitch, I didn't know she was able to manipulate her daughter into leaving the country just to break you two up," Paula said quietly,
"Well, it's water over the dam now Paula, I'm happy again, and I want to stay that way." He said as once again he turned to the window,
"Well, I know my job now, no one will get that full story, I promise you. It's no one's business but those involved, I'm sorry for what it's worth" she said softly,
XxX
London School of Design
London England,
Same Time Frame
Kyra was still walking around in a daze, she missed Rick, she missed his confidence in her telling her she had this. No matter what challenges she faced Rick was always her biggest supporter, and now, she was in a flat, shared with another American girl from Ohio, without any support system. Amanda and she talked but they had little in common, other than both being "Yanks" as the locals called them.
She was adjusting to the slang, as well as the pronunciation of words she was constantly being corrected, the most often was schedule, who the hell made shed-ule out of that? She started to tell them that we won the war but realized she was the foreigner in their land. She was getting more comfortable each day, and Amanda and she seldom clashed over anything.
One afternoon she came home to see a book left out on the table, reading was one of Amanda's hobbies, she went to pick it up and return it to her room when she saw the picture on the back cover. She dropped it like it was a pan of burning oil, just as Amanda came in.
"Hey, how's it going, I see you saw the latest book I just picked up. It's really good, you can read it when I finish it. I've only got three chapters to go, I could hardly put it down, it's happy, it's sad, and well you'll see" Amanda said,
"Oh, thanks Mandy, it looks like something I would read. Is that the writer on the back?" she asked playing dumb,
"Yeah, he's hot, isn't he? He could put his shoes under my bed anytime, rahhhh She purred"
"He is good looking what's the story, I never heard of, (she turned the book to read his name) Richard Castle." She said,
"I know, this is his first book and he's from New York, so when you go home you can check him out. He's working on a new series according to his promo, but the dedication of this book, I mean some chick really did a number on him. He sounds like he found someone, but hey a girl can dream right?" she said, as she took the book from Kyra's hand. "I'll leave it on the table when I finish it, OK?"
"Sure, sure thing, thank Mandy, I have a project I need to work on anyway, so I'll be back soon," she said as she left the flat. Why the fuck did they call them flats, most had stairs the minute you opened the front door. What the hell was Rick doing with the disguise and the fake name she wondered, as she walked to the library, logging on to her laptop she did a search for Richard Castle, and up came the title of his first book and a short bio.
"Richard Castle, Black Pawn's newest star was born and raised in New York, single, but in a relationship, not looking for anything, or anyone on the side, interested in and it listed a host of social activities, which wasn't new to her. She paged down and read the dedication that Mandy was speaking of, and her heart almost broke as she read,
"This book is dedicated to two special women in my life. One who made me feel like I could accomplish nothing the other that made me feel I could accomplish every desire in my heart, To KB, and GC, with eternal thanks to each" Rick Castle
Oh God was that the way she left him, she thought back and the letter she wrote. Yes, it was a coward's approach, but she knew she would never have the strength unless she forced him to break up with her. Did she really make him feel like he couldn't accomplish his dreams? When they first met, he was writing, he continued to write until her Mother, bashed his hopes and she was silent.
She didn't support his dreams, she never had, even though no matter what she tried, he was her biggest fan. Why did she allow her mother to have such an influence on her, God, had she made the biggest mistake of her life? He had moved on already? With who? How could he just wipe her out of his mind so quickly, then she thought, why would he not want to, she knew the hurt she inflicted. She doubted he would have been as civil as he was in their last meeting.
She walked out of the library, feeling as low as she thought she could feel until her phone rang, it was her mother's ring tone. What was wrong, her mother never called her during the week, the rates were higher she would always complain. Something awful must have happened, she grabbed her phone and answered,
"What's wrong Mother? You never call me during the week so tell me the truth, is Daddy OK? What's going on?" she fired question after question at her mom.
"Kyra, slow down, nothing is wrong, well nothing that affects us anymore. I just wanted you to know that I got a special delivery this morning from a company called Black Pawn Publishing, it was a book from Richard. He's using a different name, but I can't believe he went to all that expense to send me a fake book from some fake publishing company.
"Mother, it's not fake, the only thing that is fake is the beard they photoshopped onto his picture. As for his name, it's common, most celebrities never use their real names" she said softly,
"Kyra, please you're an intelligent woman, who would publish a book by, by"
"Is the bastard is the word you're searching for mother? Black Pawn is a big publishing company in New York, you said it was delivered this morning, was there any note or anything in the box?" Kyra asked,
"Nothing that made sense, there was a card that said, "Sheila, thanks for the incentive, even though that wasn't your intent." Then he signed it Richard Castle, it looked like Richard's fancy signature, but why would he send me a card, and some woman sign the note under his name."
"A woman mother? What was her name? Did she write anything else," Kyra asked?
"It said, enjoy the book, you're the inspiration for many chapters, Sincerely, Paula Haas, Publicist, for Mr. Richard Castle. Really, Kyra, I think Richard is trying to get back at you for chasing your dreams by sending me this fake book, he went to a lot of expense to do it" Sheila Blaine said,
"Mother for the last time, it's not fake, for God's sake, go to Barnes and Noble and see if you can buy a copy, then tell me if you still think he went to that expense to hurt me? He's moved on Mother, this dream I'm living, is it really mine or is it yours Mother? I really don't know anymore and now I have no reason to care, thanks to you" Kyra said through her tears,
"Kyra, I know you don't mean that, if you had stayed with him, you would have wound up living on a second-rate college professor's salary in some small college town. He'll never amount to anything Kyra, you deserve better." Sheila repeated the same line that she had used for almost three years,
"Well, I guess we'll see won't we mother, but one thing you did do, you made sure it's over between us, he's already moved on, go buy the book mother, and send it to me. It won't be available over here for six more weeks, and I want a copy," Kyra said,
"Why? Why would you want anything from that bastard that made you cry the ni"
"STOP mother, first stop calling him a bastard, next I left him, not the other way around so will you send me the book, or do I have to have one of my friends send it to me?" She barked,
"Very well, Kyra, I'll send it later today, but I'm not paying for special delivery,"
"Fine, mother, that's fine, tell Daddy I love him, Goodbye" as she hung up, the phone and noticed the tears running down her cheeks, she had ended it for good.
TBC